On May 5th and 6th, thousands of women, girls, and allies will convene in Los Angeles for the 2018 USOW Summit to inspire and be inspired, to motivate and be motivated, to teach and to learn from hands-on training, tools and resources needed to make change at all levels. Attendees will connect with leading organizations to channel their energy into action, leaving with new ideas and partners, hands-on training, and the tools and resources they need to make change at all levels.
To truly bring together some of the most inspiring women, girls, and allies creating change at the local level, the United State of Women asked to hear from changemakers of all ages and backgrounds who are turning their passion into action and wanted to join us in Los Angeles. We received stories from people all across the country doing incredible work to advance women’s rights. And earlier this month, we extended hundreds of scholarships to them. As a student, I know how important it is for activism to be accessible and I’m thrilled that so many of these changemakers will be joining us in May for #USOW2018.
We hope you’ll enjoy reading some of their stories and invite you to share your own on social media! Tell us about the work you're doing to change the state of women in 2018. We'll be reposting your stories leading up to #USOW2018 in Los Angeles. Remember to tag @USOWomen and use #StateOfWomen in your posts so we see it!
Chloe Pan, 21 | Los Angeles, CA | Student Body External Vice President, UCLA Undergraduate Students Association
As a first-generation Chinese American immigrant, Chloe’s organizing has been fundamentally rooted in the need to elevate the voices of those most in the margins. She’s done labor outreach for the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance to ensure that immigrant workers are receiving fair wages and her current research focuses on the experiences of migrant women in the food service industry. Chloe has also focused on immigration and education issues at the House Judiciary Committee and White House Initiative on AAPIs. At UCLA, she serves as the student body External Vice President. That office is tasked with being the official advocacy voice of 30,000+ undergraduate students on issues of economic, social, and racial justice.
In the last nine months, Chloe’s team of 70+ student advocates has organized statewide campaigns that resulted in a delay on UC tuition increases, the resignation of a UC Regent accused of sexual misconduct, and the creation of a ballot referendum to establish a new local council representing our area. Chloe’s team has executed 30+ events on political advocacy, organized 18 phonebanking sessions, collected 7000+ petition signatures, held 60+ lobbying meetings, and made public comment to city and state committees on issues impacting students. The office is driven by the need to fight for low-income communities of color by challenging and improving the UC system—but she knows there is still so much more work to be done. As a graduating senior, Chloe advocates for a sustainable pipeline of student leadership to continue mobilize at the grassroots level. She wants to do as much as she can to break out of the silo of UCLA and the privileged silo of higher education.
Chloe says that every time she walks onto campus, she’s reminded of who is not there. To her, service is not random acts of kindness, but strategic acts of justice. Chloe is attending the 2018 United State of Women to become more engaged in the fight for immigrant communities, working class communities, and communities of color.
Sarah Super, 29 | Minneapolis, MN | Founder, Break the Silence
6 weeks after she was raped at knifepoint by her ex-boyfriend, Sarah publicly identified herself as the victim. By telling herstory, Sarah unconsciously gave others permission to tell theirs, who inspired others to tell theirs. Breaking the silence had a ripple effect. Sarah chose to build on this momentum by founding "Break the Silence" to create invitations and platforms for survivors of sexual violence to publicly say their names and tell their stories.
Charise Walker | CEO/Founder, Helping Women Win Inc. | Lawton, OK
Charise Walker is the CEO and Founder of Helping Women Win Inc., a Lawton Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) public charity, providing culturally-competent programs and housing to at-risk women and girls affected by violence. The organization began as a survivor-led support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) women of color who have experienced dating, domestic, and/or sexual violence and has since expanded to include crisis intervention, youth prevention, and senior programs. As a survivor of violence, Charise uses her experience to advocate for an improved, coordinated response to all survivors of violence regardless of how they identify. She directs the daily operations of Helping Women Win while collaborating with individuals, businesses, and other nonprofits to help meet critical needs within the community.
In addition to her efforts to prevent violence and end poverty in her community, Charise is also a partner at Walker Page Consulting, a 100% woman-owned agency providing professional media, administrative, and management services to for-profit and not-for-profit clients of the Great Plains region. Charise recently managed the winning political campaign of a candidate running for municipal office. She credits the experience for her increased hope in a more progressive, political future with the help of her peers. Charise is an entrepreneur with over five years in developing, implementing, and managing programs for underserved populations in Comanche County.
Charise is currently managing the campaign of the only woman in Oklahoma’s 2018 Gubernatorial race.
Ava Paulsen, 13 | Valencia, CA | Student, Girl Scouts
Ava Paulsen is a 13-year old youth activist who recently took bold steps and changed the lives of 1,300 kids at her middle school. Ava, along with many of her peers, was personally affected by a harsh dress code upon entering middle school. So she decided to take action. She researched and reviewed studies about the objectification of girls and wrote a speech challenging the school dress code. Armed with facts showing that strict dress codes emotionally harm students and negatively affect the educational process, she presented her persuasive speech to her principal. She then organized a dress code task force which was instrumental in the creation of a school-wide survey for students, teachers, and parent stakeholders. Within three months, her peaceful activism and diplomacy brought about the replacement of the old dress code, successfully improving the lives, learning, and school environment for 1,300 students.
Ava was also instrumental to me during the 2016 presidential election. Ava’s parent was team leader for Hillary Clinton's Santa Clarita (the last red area of LA county) team. Ava assisted in organizing and leading phone banks, training volunteers and making numerous calls. Ava is a straight A honor roll student, recipient of the Presidential Award of Excellence in Education, sixth grade award for Outstanding Character, and seventh grade Student of the Month award for Citizenship. She is a sixth year Girl Scout and has earned her Bronze Award, Leadership Torch, and Cadette Community Service Bar (for her work during the 2016 election cycle). She is currently working on her Silver Award, the highest award attainable at her current level in Girl Scouts. Ava is motivated to continue to stand up for what she believes in and to rectify injustice in her community.
Carol Burnett | Biloxi, MS | Executive Director, Moore Community House
Carol Burnett’s lifelong commitment to serving Mississippi women and children are among the qualities we believe make her a perfect “changemaker” to attend the United State of Women 2018 Summit. Carol is Executive Director of Moore Community House, a community center in the diverse community of east Biloxi providing Early Head Start services as well as the Women in Construction program, which provides job training to support low-income women’s economic security. Carol is also the founder and executive director of the Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative, a 20-year-old statewide organization that works to highlight the importance of expanding the availability of affordable child care to working families. Carol has also served as director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services Office of Children and Youth, where she administered Mississippi's federally funded child care subsidy programs. During her tenure, Mississippi used more federal funds for child care than any year before or since. Carol was a delegate to the 2015 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, she attended the White House Summit on Working Families, and she serves as a Center for American Progress Faith and Reproductive Justice Leader. Carol has received many awards including the Lighthouse BPW Woman of Achievement award, the Ms. Foundation for Women’s Woman of Vision award, the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference Founder’s award, and the Mississippi State NAACP Vernon Dahmer award. Carol is an ordained United Methodist minister in the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church (one of the first women in Mississippi to be ordained) and has a Masters Degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York, New York.
Noemi Orozco, 38 | Torrance, CA | Small Business Owner/Artisan Textile Designer, Loomed
Loomed is a collection of fine Alpaca Travel Wraps that are designed in Los Angeles and hand-loomed by our artisan partners in Peru.
Alpaca is sustainable, our focus is to promote this unique artisan made textile. The art of hand-Looming is becoming extinct. By promoting this craft and creating innovative designs, artisans can continue their legacy. Noemi works directly with the artisans and pays fair trade prices for their work.
Loomed is about creating luxe Travel Wraps and honoring culture and textile traditions. You can learn more at www.loomedworld.com.
